Embracing Minimalism Instead of Habitual Decluttering

In this blog, I tend to focus a lot on decluttering. I know when I started seeking minimalism, I needed guidance with even the most basic beginnings of decluttering, I longed for encouragement and someone who had been through it, sharing what they know. So, for many articles, that is the bent I take.

But I have come to realize that decluttering can be addictive in and of itself, and though decluttering is spoken of frequently here on the blog, it’s not the end goal to have everyone just decluttering.

The addictive decluttering I’m talking about here is very different than Compulsive Decluttering, which is a form of OCD, (where clutter causes extreme anxiety, to the point that life is challenging, because we do require a certain amount of possessions to live, but often the person with the disorder seeks an empty, clear and sterile environment).

I want to talk a bit about habitual type of decluttering. Where the act of decluttering is what is enjoyed- it gives a sense of accomplishment, exhilaration from seeing the room transformed and dropping boxes off at a donation site gives a rush.

When decluttering becomes the focus, rather than just a venue for lifestyle change, it needs to be addressed.

The only way to know if this is an issue for you is to spend some time in introspection and ask yourself some questions:

Do you find yourself longing to declutter, (just for the thrill of it) without necessarily having an empty space as an end goal?

When you think about decluttering, what is the end goal that you envision?

Have you implemented daily routines to keep your home tidy, or don’t see the point of routines?

Have you noticed a shift in buying/shopping habits or do you not consider your consumer mindset as a contributing factor to the clutter?

It is not exactly easy to live [minimally]. People and companies are really good at persuading you to buy things. As a society, we enjoy shopping because we get something new and exciting out of it. Once that excitement dies down, we get bored, so we repeat the process because we want that excitement again. Most people have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to be a minimalist because shopping is part of our culture, but funnily enough, minimalism allows you to explore new ways of finding that same excitement without having to whip out your wallet. ~The Blissful Mind

Most of us know that the clutter on the surfaces of our home contributes to the overwhelming and out-of-control feelings that we have. But to make the shift from just decluttering to embracing minimalism is an important step if you want lasting results.

You don’t have to have a sparse home in order to consider yourself a minimalist. Rather, minimalism is a belief, a lifestyle, with appropriate priorities and intentional actions.

Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by extreme self-denial or abstinence from worldly pleasures. It is important not to confuse that with minimalism. ~Minimalism & Co.

Being a minimalist isn’t a ticket into an elite group or defined by a number of possessions. Being a minimalist is something that starts in the mind and is driven by intangibles. The visible and tangible is only a byproduct of intentional living decisions. ~Loving Simple Living

If you find yourself desiring something more, to find meaning in life outside of material possessions, a minimalist path is definitely the way to go. Let go of the things that don’t add value to your life and do what you need to do to avoid them coming back.

Decluttering, in and of itself isn’t the goal. It’s a means to an end.

A small disclaimer: I continue to declutter. Certainly not to the same extent I used to, and as more and more of my children leave the nest, I imagine my weekly decluttering will decrease as well. Having a family of 7 means that more things come into the home, so if I want to maintain the atmosphere I have worked so hard to achieve, I have to build decluttering into my weekly routines and the way I live day-to-day.

For several years I had to focus on getting rid of large amounts of items I had collected over the years. Toys, clothes, sentimental items, papers… I had to set aside time to sort, decide and discard.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s good if you get a feel accomplished and excited because of the progress you made when decluttering. But there is more to life than just feeling accomplished everyday.

There is more to life than just making it through and marking off a to-do list. Oh, that is definitely rewarding, I love my lists, my charts and feeling accomplished at the end of the day.

But embracing minimalism means to evaluate what you want in life, the most important things to you, and instead of allowing your life to be consumed with being a care-taker of stuff, embracing minimalism means you discard the things that are distracting you from your life purpose.

Don’t know what your life purpose is? That’s ok – the more superfluous things you let go, the more introspection has to be done, the more you evaluate your beliefs and look for meaning.

Just like decluttering shouldn’t be the goal, minimalism isn’t either. Rather, minimalism frees me up to devote my life to what is most important to me.

At its core, minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. ~Becoming Minimalist

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Comments

“You don’t have to have a sparse home in order to consider yourself a minimalist. Rather, minimalism is a belief, a lifestyle, with appropriate priorities and intentional actions.”

This whole article resonated with me but especially the quote above. This article also opened my eyes and challenged my thoughts on the whole decluttering process.

It’s funny, I visited the vanderbilt Biltmore estate last week and was incredibly inspired Although he was the opposite of a minimalist! However his home was filled with what he loved. So now I hope to balance the two. Bringing in what I enjoy and love, while also being mindful of purchases and ensuring DAILY routines are focused on what matters most to our family.

I have been struggling with the idea that my efforts to declutter and move toward minimalism are misplaced. I live for the accomplishment, and am incredibly discouraged, frustrated, or angry when more clutter comes in. Living with other people makes it difficult to maintain my “standard” of maximum items in a space.

Routines are something I’ve been working toward, both for my home’s comfort level and for my own sanity and organization. Maybe that can be the subject of an upcoming post. Thanks again!

sometimes I think i minimize just to get that stress-lifting, liberating feeling. It’s hard to tell if that is the case or if i just don’t like being tied down. your belongings really do own you. i prefer to be free to go when and where i want and to make a change as needed, without spending months unloading all we own beforehand. I do feel the stress if we start to accumulate too much ‘stuff’. one move in the old life with all of our old ‘stuff’ was enough to convince me to unload much of it. I now try to discard something when bringing something else in.

I find that living with other people does make it difficult to declutter and minimize when the other members of the household don’t see it the same way. my own personal footprint is extremely small but it’s a constant battle to keep it that way, however, I think it would be a continuous struggle even without the influence of others.

I do love our new minimalist lifestyle! It’s not perfect but it’s considerably better than is used to be.

Thanks for this post, Rachel. There is a difference between the means and the end goal. That is why it can really help to define the “Why”.

For me the “Why” is about clean clear spaces and the sense of serenity they bring. Also just knowing where everything is. I think that is why Mari Kondo claims that once you are surrounded by only those possessions that “spark joy” you will keep them that way.

Thanks for your blog, Rachel. It is feally helping me create the home I want!

Thank you so much for this blog. I’m another woman of faith embarking on the journey of minimalism as part of a desire for more peace and joy, but also out of a desire to follow Jesus’ example of loving others and living with less. Thank you for the inspiration! Your reflections are thought-provoking and encouraging.

Thankyou for the blog . I too am reaching to a life without extra stuff to care for snd maintain. Jesus lived intentionally and with love and leaves that example fir us . Less is more when you love it!